Decatur ARB schedules in‑person and virtual training; city to cover registrations

At the June 12 meeting staff announced training opportunities for Decatur Architectural Review Board and Historic Preservation Commission members, including an in‑person session Friday, Aug. 1 at Morgan County Archives and virtual training on July 25.

Staff said the Aug. 1 in‑person session is specialized training geared to the ARB and HPC and will include a former chair of the Annapolis, Maryland, preservation board who works on the politics of preservation and enforcement. The July 25 virtual day will include two one‑hour-plus sessions on survey and inventory and a session focused on code enforcement and legal issues directed more to ARB members.

Staff also noted that the National Alliance of Preservation Commissions will host a two‑day virtual short course in August; the city is paying the registration fee for board members. "We need to have you registered for it because the city is paying your registration fee," staff said and asked interested members to email staff to sign up so the city can invoice the training provider.

Staff, who said they personally serve as a national trainer and will lead a session on community outreach, encouraged members to participate and said recordings will be available for the virtual sessions but that recorded sessions do not allow live questioning.

Next steps: staff will confirm final times and logistics within about a week for the in‑person session and finalize registration paperwork; members were asked to email staff to indicate interest.